Weighing scale readout device



United States Patent [72] Inventor Ernest G. Hoffman Hamden, Conn.

[21] Appl. No. 882,932

[22] Filed Dec. 8, 196? [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee VeederIndustries Inc.

Hartford, Conn. a corporation of Connecticut [54] WEIGHING SCALE READOUTDEVICE 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 177/210, 177/230 [51] Int. Cl 601g 23/37,

601g 7/02, G01g 23/26 [50] Field of Search 177/Digitizers B Digest,Magnets Digest, 210, 230,

3,163,247 12/1964 Belletal. 177/3 3,268,020 8/1966 Puechberty i. 177/210Primary Examiner--Robert S. Ward. .lr. AttorneyPurtzman, Hayes, Kalb andChilton ABSTRACT: A bathroom scale with a pacing disc rotatable by anelectric motor in accordance with the angular displacement of thereadout disc of a conventional bathroom scale weighing mechanism. Themotor is pivotally mounted to engage the followup disc and to close afirst motor control switch when a person stands on the scale weighingplatform, and a second motor control switch mounted on the pacing discand connected in series with the first motor control switch is operatedby an upstanding switch operator mounted on the readout disc, and thereadout and pacing discs rotate together to maintain the second motorcontrol switch closed until the discs reach a position corresponding tothe applied weight. In one embodiment an electromagnetic counterpositioned at eye level above the weighing platform is electricallyconnected to be indexed to register the applied weight by a pulsegenerator comprising a switch and a switch operating cam mounted on themotor shaft. In a second embodiment a counter is mechanically driven bythe pacing disc.

PATENTEU [1EC2 9197B SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. ERNEST G. HOFFMAN ATTORNEYSPATENTED M029 mm SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 4

WEIGHING SCALE READOUT DEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates generally to weighing scales and more particularly toa hew and improved weight readout device for weighing scale.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved weight readout device for a bathroom scale.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedbathroom scale having a battery powered weight register.

It is a further aim of the present inventionto provide a new andimproved bathroom scale having a weight register adapted to retain aweight reading and to be selectively reset to zero.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved weight readout device for a conventional bathroom scaleweighing mechanism.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved weighing device with a remote weight register.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedweight readout device for a bathroom scale having a compact andeconomical construction and providing reliable operation over alongservice-free life.

Other objects will be in pan obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings ofillustrative applications of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bathroom scale incorporating anembodiment of a scale readout device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view, partly broken away and partly insection, of a platform assembly of the bathroom scale with its weighingplatform in a raised pivotal position;

FIG. 3 is a generally schematic illustration showing the electricalcircuit of the bathroom scale;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation section view, partly broken away andpartly in section, of a base subassembly of the platform assembly;

FIG. 5 is a combined schematic illustration and isometric view, partlybroken away and partly in section, showing a modified embodiment of thescale readout device; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit of theembodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings indetail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-4, a bathroomscale 10 incorporating an embodiment of a scale readout device of thepresent invention is shown comprising a platform assembly 12, and aremote electromagnetic counter 14 connected by a lead 13 to the platformassembly to register the weight, for example of a person standing on aweighing platform 15 of the platform assembly. The counter 14 comprisesa plurality of coaxial counter wheels 16 and a suitable electromagneticactuator (not shown) operably by a train of low voltage electricalpulses. The counter 14 is adapted to retain its weight registration andmay be selectively reset to zero by manually depressing a reset bar 18.

The platform assembly 12 comprises a base subassembly 20 and a coversubassembly 21 which is supported upon four weighing levers 22-25 of thebase subassembly 20. The base subassembly 20 may be of conventionalconstruction, for example as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,875,999 of Mike A.Provi et al. entitled Bathroom Scale" and dated March 3, 1959, exceptingthat an upstanding switch actuator rod is provided on the usual readoutdisc 32.

Briefly, the weighing levers 22-25 have V-shaped slots 33 for receivingand supporting the cover subassembly 21, and one end of each of theweighing levers 2225 is supported on the edge of the base pan 34 andtheir other ends are suitably interconnected to collectively bias alever arm 35 downwardly against the bias of a coil spring 36 inaccordance with the weight on the weighing platform 15. A followuplinkage comprising an upstanding pin 37, bellcrank 38, rack 40 andtension spring 41 provides for angularly displacing the readout disc 32in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, from itsestablished zero or no weight position shown in FIG. 2 in proportion tothe weight on the weighing platform 15, and an adjusting knob 46 isprovided for setting the zero position of the disc 32.

The cover subassembly 21 comprises a generally rectangular frame 50which is supported in the four V-shaped slots 33 on the weighing levers2225, and suitable retaining springs 52 are provided for retaining theframe 50 in assembled relationship with the base subassembly 20. Acounterdrive mechanism 54 is supported on the frame 50 and the weighingplatform 15 is pivotally mounted on the frame 50 to provide access tothe counterdrive mechanism 54 and the adjusting knob 46.

The counterdrive mechanism 54 comprises a gear or disc 56 mounted on theframe 50 for rotation substantially coaxially with the disc 32. The disc56 is angularly biased, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2,by a return tension spring 58 via a cord 60 wrapped partly around a stubshaft 62 of the disc 56 and connected to the disc. The disc 56 is formedwith a depending tang 64 engageable with the frame 50 to provide a stopfor establishing the zero position of the disc.

A control switch 66 having a flexible generally radially extendingcantilever type operating arm 68 is mounted on the underside of the disc56, and the disc 56 is provided with depending tangs 70, 72 to limit themovement of the switch arm 68 between its normal or open position inengagement with the stop 70 and its closed position in engagement withthe stop 72. The switch 66 is preferably a snap-acting overcenter switchwhich snaps closed just prior to engagement of the switch arm 68 withthe stop 72 and snaps open just prior to engagement of the arm 68 withthe stop 70.

As seen in FIG. 2, the actuator rod 30 is mounted for engagement withthe switch arm 68 to operate the switch 66 in accordance with therelative angular positions of the discs 32 and 56. The disc 32 ispreferably zeroed (by the adjustment knob 46) so that the actuator rod30 is positioned in contact with the switch arm 68 with the arm 68 inengagement with the stop 70 as shown in FIG. 2.

A drive assembly 76 having a support plate 77 is pivotally mounted onthe frame 50, and a tension spring 82 is adapted to pivot the plate 77to an operative position determined by the stop 78 to provide forengagement of a gear 80 driven by a motor 81 with the gear 56 forrotating the gear 56, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 2. The drive assembly 76 is maintained in its withdrawn pivotalposition shown in FIG. 2 when there is no weight on the weighingplatform 15, for which purpose there are provided a pair of tensionsprings 86 which act through levers 88 and rod 90 for retracting thesupport plate 77. The upper tapered ends of the levers 88 are contouredto engage the underside of the weighing platform 15 and hold theweighing platform 15 a short distance above its forward supports 94 sothat when someone steps onto the weighing platform 15, the platform 15will pivot the levers 88 downwardly against the bias of the tensionsprings 86 to permit the drive assembly 76 to be pivoted inwardly by thespring 82 to engage the gears 80, 56 and to close a control switch 104with an upstanding tang on the support plate 77.

A battery pack 106 having four batteries 108 is mounted along theforward edge of the frame 50, and the battery pack 106, motor 81 andcontrol switches 66, 104 are connected in series as shown in FIG. 3 toprovide for selectively operating the motor 81. Thus, when someone stepsonto the weighing platform 15 (a) the drive assembly 76 will be pivotedto engage the gears 80, 56 and to close the control switch 104; (b) thereadout disc 32 will be rotated by the tension spring 41, in thecounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, to close the switch 66;and (c) the motor 81 will be energized to rotate the disc 56, in thecounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The readout disc 32 androd 30 will follow the disc 56 (which thereby functions to pace therotation of the readout disc 32) to maintain the switch 66 closed untilthe disc 32 reaches an angular position corresponding to the weight onthe weighing platform 15. The disc 56 will be rotated by the motor 81 afew degrees further until the switch arm 68 is permitted to movesufficiently to open the switch 66 and thereby deenergize the motor 81.Consequently the disc 56 will be angularly displaced from its zeroposition by the motor 81 in proportion to the weight on the weighingplatform 15.

A pulse generator 109 comprising a motor driven switch cam 110 and aswitch 112 is provided for generating a pulse train having a number ofpulses corresponding to the angular displacement of the disc 56.Preferably the cam 110 is contoured to generate an electrical pulse foreach pound of weight on the weighing platform, and for example for each1 of displacement of the disc 56, and the counter 14 is adapted to beindexed one count for each electrical pulse so that the counter 14 willregister the applied weight to the nearest pound. Also, the motor 81preferably operates at a speed sufficient to provide full scale travel(for example 300) of the disc 56 within a few seconds. As a resultadequate time would be provided for the weighing levers 2225 tostabilize while the disc 56 is being rotated by the motor 81, and thediscs 32, 56 would accordingly be rotated to the appropriate anglecorresponding to the applied weight without overtravel.

When a person being weighed steps off the weighing platform 15, the disc32 will be returned to its zero position by the spring 36 and the driveassembly 76 will be withdrawn to open the control switch 104 and topermit the disc 56 to be returned to its zero position by the tensionspring 58. However, the counter will retain the weight readout and canbe selectively reset to zero by the reset bar 18 as desired.

A modified embodiment of the scale readout device is shown in FIGS. 5and 6 in which a suitable counter 120 is mechanically driven by the disc56 via a gear 122 and a suitable drive shaft or cable 124 to registerthe applied weight. Accordingly the counter 120 will be mechanicallyindexed by the disc 56 to register the weight on the weighing platformas the disc is rotated by the motor 81. Also, when the disc 56 returnsto its zero position the counter 120 will be indexed in the subtractivedirection to zero, for which purpose a suitably strong return spring forthe disc 56 is employed.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, variousmodifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

I claim:

1. in a weighing scale having a weighing mechanism and a rotary outputconnected to be angularly displaced in one angular direction from a zeroangular position thereof in proportion to the weight applied to theweighing mechanism, the improvement wherein the scale comprises areadout device having a readout controller rotatable substantiallycoaxially with said rotary output, disengageable controller drive meansoperable for rotating the controller from a zero angular positionthereof in said one angular direction, return spring means for rotatingthe readout controller in the opposite angular direction to its zeroangular position, a readout counter, counterdrive means for indexing thecounter in proportion to the angular displacement of the rotarycontroller in said one angular direction from its zero angular position,and control means for engaging the disengageable drive means forrotating the controller from its zero angular position in said oneangular direction in accordance with the angular displacement of therotary output from its zero angular position.

2. A scale according to claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism comprisesa weighing platform for receiving the applied weight and wherein thecontrol means is responsive to the application of weight to the weighingplatform for engaging the disengageable controller drive means.

3. A scale according to claim 1 wherein the readout counter is anelectromagnetic counter operable by electrical pulses and wherein thecounter drive means comprises a pulse generator operable for generatinga number of spaced electrical pulses in accordance with the angulardisplacement of the rotary controller from its zero angular position.

4. A scale according to claim 3 wherein the pulse generator comprises arotary cam connected to be rotated in proportion to the angulardisplacement of the rotary controller and a pulsing switch operable bythe cam to generate electrical pulses as the cam rotates.

5. A scale according to claim 1 wherein the disengageable drive means isoperable for engaging and disengaging the counterdrive means inconjunction with the engagement and disengagement of the controllerdrive means respectively.

6. A scale according to claim 1 wherein the controller drive meanscomprises an electrical drive motor.

7. A scale according to claim 6 wherein the drive control meanscomprises a first motor control switch for the drive motor and switchoperating means for operating the switch in conjunction with theengagement of the controller drive means.

8. A scale according to claim 7 wherein the drive control meanscomprises a second motor control switch connected in series with saidfirst motor control switch and operable in accordance with the relativeangular positions of the rotary output and readout controller.

9. A scale according to claim 6 wherein the drive control meanscomprises a motor control switch operable in accordance with therelative angular positions of the rotary output and readout controllerfor selectively energizing the motor.

10. A scale according to claim 9 wherein the motor control switch ismounted on the readout controller and wherein the drive control meanscomprises a switch actuator mounted on the rotary output for operatingthe motor control switch.

11. A scale according to claim 10 wherein the weighing mechanismcomprises second spring means for angularly displacing the rotary outputin said one angular direction from its zero position, wherein the rotarycontroller is adapted to restrain the rotary output against the bias ofsaid second spring means, and wherein the second spring means operatesto rotate the rotary output to actuate the motor control switch upon theapplication of weight to the weighing mechanism.

12. in a weighing scale having a weighing mechanism with a rotary outputconnected to be angularly displaced in one angular direction from a zeroangular position thereof in proportion to the weight applied to theweighing mechanism, the im provement wherein the scale comprises areadout device having a readout controller rotatable substantiallycoaxially with said rotary output, controller drive means operable forrotating the controller from a zero angular position thereof in said oneangular direction, an electromagnetic readout counter, a pulse generatoroperable for generating a train of pulses in accordance with the angulardisplacement of the rotary controller from its zero angular position,and control means for operating the controller drive means to rotate thecontroller from a zero angular position thereof in said one angulardirection in accordance with the angular displacement of the rotaryoutput from its zero angular position, and for operating the pulsegenerator in conjunction therewith.

